As the year draws to a close, we at FilmForward are reflecting on the programmes, collaborations, resolutions, and inspiration that 2025 has brought us.
2025 kicked off with a Masterclass Festival Strategy with festival expert Nikolai Nikitin, who gave a packed room of professionals the ins and outs of the international festival circuit: “Don’t just aim for Cannes, but focus on all film festivals.” Audience designer Greta Nordio explained in a beautiful room at the Wereldmuseum Leiden that considering and reaching your film’s intended audience early on is crucial. “A film for everyone is a film for no one.” With script consultant Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten, we delved into script consulting at De Brakke Grond: “If nothing has been changed in the script, you’ve been too kind.”
Besides the programmes we organise, we are also working behind the scenes to build a more sustainable and stronger film and audiovisual sector in the Netherlands. This year, we said goodbye to the AV-Agenda and launched TrainUp, an extensive database of masterclasses, workshops, and talent development programmes accessible to Dutch professionals.
In 2025 we also collaborated extensively with industry organizations, such as RFX Propmaking, with whom we organized a Special Props Workshop. In the new year, we will continue this collaboration with a Special Make-up Workshop. With CINEMIND, we will continue to focus on mental health in the industry, a topic that only seems to be becoming more urgent. Next year, we will also build on the meeting on working with a disability that we organised last November with ACT Acteursbelangen.
Internationally, we were in Bern, Switzerland, for VARDA—an international network of film and audiovisual organizations for knowledge sharing. We also visited festivals such as the Berlinale and Cannes, as well as Movies That Matter, IFFR, and the Kaboom Animation Festival.
Last week, we organized the first FilmForwardFika for women in the industry with Vrouwen in Beeld and Buma Music in Motion: a time to gather with colleagues and catch up informally over coffee and a pastry. More Fikas with other communities will follow in 2026. Does your community also feel the need to organize a Fika with us? Then contact us at info@filmforward.nl
We’re closing out the year with three new open calls:
- FilmForward’s annual research programme Vrijplaats will focus on the theme of archives next year. The programme is developed in collaboration with Beeld & Geluid and is open to creators and researchers. Register before April 6th.
- TalentScope, the talent development programme for emerging Dutch talent, will launch again next year. Register as a team via the Netherlands Film Fund website before February 24th.
- In collaboration with the Danish Film School, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Events, and the Norwegian Film School, we are organising the programme Mastering AI for European Film Professionals. Two selected Dutch participants will receive a grant from the Netherlands Film Fund. Apply before February 18th.
We wish you happy holidays and an inspiring new year. Keep an eye on our newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for announcements of programmes and open calls.